Sandokan, the myth of the tiger of Mompracem lives again at the Villa Reale in Monza

We find Salgarian imagery intact and dreamlike along a U-shaped path that as if by magic projects us between the forests of Borneo and the tigers of Malaysia. Because the myth of Sandokan has found in the Orangery of the Villa Reale in Monza all its evocative power and, seizing the moment of revival thanks to the recent television series, on the nostalgic notes of what was ul television success in the early 70s, celebrates Emilio Salgari's hero at his best, who here rediscovers the old stage costumes believed lost and instead recovered more or less intact, as well as numerous memorabilia that belong to the myth of the protagonist of the saga that had its climax in Kabir Bedi's performance.

A myth that is self-generated and is always topical, given the strong characterisation of a protagonist who is an emblem of resistance and rebellion, of freedom, courage and loyalty, capable of fully embodying the eternal and universal need for discovery, evasion, knowledge and mystery, and this despite the fact that Salgari's novel appeared as far back as 1883, through its publication in 15o episodes in the Verona newspaper 'La Nuova Arena'.

For the first time ever, the original ethnographic collection of the Dayaks, the head-cutters, donated to King Umberto I of Italy by Sir Charles Brooke, a direct descendant of the legendary and real-life White Rajah James Brooke, the literary antagonist of Sandokan, can be admired here.

"Sandokan, the Tiger Roars Again", curated by Francesco Aquilanti and Loretta Paderni, Orangery, Reggia di Monza, until 28 June 2026